Police spend £1 million chasing Tommy Sheridan

A staggering £1 million was spent chasing controversial politician Tommy Sheridan who is now facing prison after being convicted of lying during his defamation case against the News of the World.

The 46-year-old Scot was awarded £200,000 in damages four years ago after the newspaper claimed he was an adulterer who visited swingers’ clubs.

But yesterday, after a sensational 12-week trial at which politicians, tabloid journalists and even Andy Coulson, Downing Street’s Director of Communications, gave evidence, a jury found Sheridan guilty of perjury during the 2006 case.

And today it emerged that Lothian and Borders Police spent more than four years chasing Sheridan, travelling across the UK and to Europe to interview witnesses.

Tommy and Gail Sheridan leaving Glasgow High Court yesterday where he was
convicted of lying under oath during his successful defamation action
against the News of the World newspaper in 2006

Scrum: Surrounded by press after the trial where he made an emotional plea to let him spend Christmas with his family

Police today defended spending more than £1 million insisting the force had a 'duty to investigate all allegations of criminal misconduct in order to
ensure that the ends of justice are met'.

The force spent almost £920,000 in staff payments for the investigation between August 2006
and August this year. Officers ranging from constables to a
detective chief inspector were involved.

Another £270,000 was spent on the inquiry itself. This included overtime payments, 'transport, supplies and services'.

The figures were obtained under freedom of information laws and released by the Scotsman after the judge at Glasgow High Court,
Lord Bracadale, released the former MSP on bail until next month.

But he
told the politician: ‘You have been convicted of the serious offence of perjury
and must return to court expecting to begin a prison sentence.’

Sheridan left court with his wife Gail, also 46, who had perjury charges dropped against her earlier in the trial.

His solicitor Aadmer Anwar read a defiant statement on behalf of the former Scottish Socialist Party leader saying: ‘I have fought the power of News International all of my political life and I make no apologies for taking on the might of Rupert Murdoch.

‘Several millions pounds of money was spent investigating me and my wife. Is it not time that similar resources were devoted to investigating the activities of the News of the World?’

Mrs Sheridan said: ‘I would like to thank everybody from across Scotland for their wonderful support throughout the last six years that they’ve given to Tommy and I.

‘Our family and our friends, our real friends, have stood by us. I have and will always stand by Tommy.’

The guilty verdict was the culmination of a lengthy battle between Sheridan, ex-leader of the Scottish Socialist Party, and the newspaper.

He originally sued after it published allegations that he was an adulterer who had attended a seedy swingers’ club, Cupid’s in Manchester.

During the 2006 civil case 11 party colleagues testified against Sheridan, saying he had admitted attending the sex club, but the jury believed him and he was awarded £200,000 damages.

Tender moment: Tommy Sheridan kisses his wife, Gail, as they left the court - he has been told to expect a prison sentence

Devoted: Gail Sheridan has stood by her husband despite the personal details that came out in court

Homeward bound: Sheridan drives him and his wife home as his time left as a free man ticks away

Two months later Edinburgh’s Procurator Fiscal ordered police to investigate allegations of perjury during the case at the Court of Session.

During that police investigation the News of the World published details of a videotape, secretly recorded by Sheridan’s best man George McNeilage, in which the politician admitted visiting the swingers’ club.

Sheridan and his wife were subsequently charged with perjury and during the resulting trial, which began in October, dozens of witnesses gave evidence against the former MSP.

The jury heard allegations of Sheridan’s affairs with journalist Anvar Khan and former SSP colleague Katrine Trolle, and the videotape from Mr McNeilage formed a crucial part of the prosecution case.

Katrine Trolle leaves the Court of Session in Edinburgh after giving evidence

Sheridan accused his former colleagues of 'spewing bile' against him as part of a 'political civil war' in the Left of the party.

The Prime Minister’s communications chief Mr Coulson, who was editor of the News of the World when Sheridan won his damages, gave evidence earlier this month. He was questioned by Sheridan, who conducted his own defence, over whether the videotape was genuine.

Sheridan asked whether he had seen his face on the tape. Mr Coulson replied: ‘No, but I heard your voice. We matched it to other recordings of your voice and it seemed pretty authentic to me.’

In a five-hour closing speech, Sheridan broke down as he told the jury they could deprive him of Christmas with his wife and five-year-old daughter Gabrielle.

‘The News of the World and the Murdoch press have tried to destroy me politically and do me in,’ he said. ‘I am not frightened of them and I will continue to fight them. I am not frightened of [the] police.

‘I am frightened of you because you can do something that the News of the World will never be able to do. You can separate me from my wife and you can make me break a promise to my daughter that I would spend Christmas with her.’ Alex Prentice, the Advocate Depute, told the jury there was a ‘compelling and convincing case’ that Sheridan committed perjury.

The QC said: ‘Why should we be interested if Tommy Sheridan had sexual relations at a sex club or extra- marital relations? There is no victim as there is in murder and rape case.

‘The reason is that there is a charge of perjury, which is knowingly giving false evidence. That is a serious crime. Our whole system of justice falls apart if perjury becomes acceptable behaviour.’

After the guilty verdicts, Lord Bracadale requested background reports and said any submissions by Sheridan – who told the jury he had spent time in jail after his protest against the Poll Tax and nuclear weapons – could be made at the sentencing hearing on January 26.

Scottish News of the World editor Bob Bird said the paper had lodged an appeal against the 2006 verdict.

He went on: ‘Today’s verdict is a vindication of good investigative journalism. We expect our successful appeal to bring an end to this matter.’

TIMELINE

NOVEMBER 2004: Sheridan sues News of the World after it publishes series of stories alleging adultery and visits to a swingers’ club.

AUGUST 2006: Politician denies allegations in court and jury awards him £200,000 in damages against News Group Newspapers.

OCTOBER 2006: His testimony seems to be blown apart after News of the World publishes secretly-recorded videotape in which Sheridan admits having visited a sex club.

DECEMBER 2007: Sheridan arrested as he leaves Edinburgh radio station and charged with perjury.

FEBRUARY 2008: Gail Sheridan, who acted as supporting witness to her husband, also charged with perjury.